Silhouette Plates Tutorial

It has been a while since I've done a tutorial.

I have the best one to show you! We are making these
in my Crafts Class:

Silhouette Plates

I LOVE silhouettes. I love the classic look of them and the
simple beauty they have.
Someday when I am not in such a funky, young, single gal decorating
faze, I am going to decorate my house like this:
They are so fun.
Look at some of these:

I love that peacock one and it would be so
fun to do for Thanksgiving. (I am really into
the birds right now.)

Instructions:
1- I went to the D.I. and grabbed some cheap white
ceramic plates. You could probably find them some at
any discount/secondhand store. Wash them good.
2- Find a silhouette that you just enjoy and would want
to hang up. I love this little owl dude and can't wait to
hang him in my kitchen.3- Enlarge it or shrink it to the size you want it to appear
on your plate.
4- On the back of your picture take a #2 pencil and darken
the whole back. Tape the print to the plate.5- Using a tough pencil or pen, outline the shapes of your picture
to transfer it onto your plate. You will need to press hard.
The transfer will be light and lead.

6- Use a black fine tip sharpie marker to go over the outlines
left by the pencil.

7- After completed with the outline, use acrylic paint to paint
between the lines of the marker. I had to repaint mine about
three times to get rid of all the plate showing through. Paint
it a good solid black.
8- Once the paint is dry, apply three coats of Minwax Polycrylic
Protective Finish to the top of your plate. Let it dry about a
half an hour between each coat.
9- You're done! Hang that puppy on the wall and enjoy it often.
I found my plate hanger at Wal-mart.

Tip:
If you want to eat on the plate you can do this whole process
on a clear plate. Make sure though that you on doing it on the back
or bottom of the plate. Paint your silhouette and once all dry,
spray paint it white over the silhouette. You will still be able
to see the silhouette when you turn the plate over. Be sure to apply
the Protective Finish and you will have to hand wash the plates.
But they would be gorgeous to eat on, right?

I'll be showing you it in the kitchen when I have it all hung up.
It is going to be so cute!
And I'll show you what my little 8th graders made.

Look in my Room, I Invite You

It is time for another DIY!!!

How I love apartment living. Definitely something everyone
should try at least once. You get to leave a lot of crap at mom and dad's
and get the humbling experience of shoving lots of items into a small place,
become an expert at make the tiniest holes useful,
dealing with other attendant habits (like smoking in the hall),
mysterious noises and smells,
strange stains on the walls and carpet, trying to find all the last renters
nail holes so you don't have to fill more in when you leave,
and the fact that the smallest of messes will take over the whole room
are all attributes that contribute to the wonderful opportunity of
living in an apartment.

When I was at college my favorite was looking
through the windows of other apartments. I was really trying
hard not to be freaky, but I was just so curious how they decorated,
who was there, and... they did leave their window open (it wasn't my fault.)
But this time I live
on the top floor and my window is high.
So... in the spirit of apartment living I give you my little
hole in the wall (known in other terms as my bedroom.)
It is little but cozy for me.
(Who can find Van Gogh?)

And I want to tell you about this little piece:
(It is hanging to the right in my room picture.)

Easy as pie to make (I don't know why they
say pie is easy to make because it really isn't.)
I had an extra canvas lying around so I cut out different
strips of scrapbook paper and simply Modge Podge them to my
canvas. It was so much fun. I think this idea would be great
with a large canvas and use it for a headboard.
Good luck. If you do it, let me know.

{click on tutorial on the sidebar to look at my other ideas}

The Mr. Van Gogh Interlude

I have a HUGE crush on my Van Gogh doll.
(And because I am an art teacher, I can have Van Gogh dolls.)

{You know Van Gogh right? The tormented artist who painted all

the beautiful swirly landscapes. My favorite is "Starry Night."
He was always financial broke. And sadly

only sold one of his 800 paintings during his lifetime. He committed suicide in his
30s. Pretty much he is a legend-- very mysterious and a genius for his time,

not appreciated until after his death. I love his paintings. And he

happens to be my favorite artist. And the fact that another of my favorite

artist, Josh Groban, sang about him makes my toes wiggle.

A Van Gogh painting to look at and a Josh Groban song to listen to,

well there is nothing better than that. It is my cozy time.}

Music Playlist at MixPod.com

My original Van Gogh doll faced a terrible death by the

roommate's dog shortly after moving in. Belle, the dog, attacked his face and left

a gaping hole. I was heartbroken. But a new one arrived the other day,

and my broken heart fills somewhat renewed.

Look at him! Cute right?
I mean he has a little paintbrush in his hand!

And the best part, the part that gets me really excited, is his ear

comes detached!

There are several stories about Mr. Van Gogh's ear. One that

it was injured after a fight with one of his good friend and fellow

painter, Gauguin. There is the one were he cut it off and took it to

a prostitute and practically bled to death until discover by the police the

next day. But the one I like and prefer to believe is that Van Gogh

fell in love with a woman who would not return his affection. In

some fit of craziness, he cut off his ear and set it to her. I don't know

why, but I like to think in his lunatic mind it made sense to give

her a piece of himself as a sign of true devotion.

So, my Van Gogh doll sits waiting for me to find someone to give

his ear to, only symbolizing my true devotion of course.
But he looks so cute while he does it I just had to share.

(Maybe all artists are a tad loony.)

There is your art history lesson for the day. Feeling educated?

Whiteboard

Again, no photoshop so I couldn't do a detailed tutorial, but honestly

this totally cute whiteboard didn't need it. It is so darn easy and I

believe an essential for every college student. My roommate and I write notes

back and forth to each other. And I love me a handwritten note.

Here are the directions:

1) Purchase yourself a frame. I bought a square one from Porter's Craft

for about $8. Make sure you have glass in it.

2) Using Modge Podge, I just cut out some scrapbook paper I liked and

glued it on. In the corner, for the flowers, I just did the same thing I did

in this tutorial and glued them on.

(Tip: these flowers are also adorable to glue on headbands.)

3) I put a piece of scrapbook paper on the back and closed up the frame.

4) And now the fun part: write away on the glass with dry-erase markers.

I freakin love our whiteboard. It adds a lot to our apartment.

ThE ZoNe

There is something magical about producing something that wasn't there

before. For me, it is art. I get so excited when I sit down and release all

that pent up energy into something that has been playing across my mind.

Something that has wanted to get out for a while. It is so satisfying to

look at something you did and know that it is the very essence

of who you are. It doesn't have to be perfect. BUT don't let the fear of failure

discourage you from trying. You will be surprised by the your own

capability. It is something that I feel I must do to understand life.

It clears my head and makes me feel like I have purpose.

{this is my neice Tayla with a twist inspired by the Fauves, Acrylic}
For the big day tomorrow my cooperating teacher (whom I'll call Mrs. CT)
asked if I would create a small slide show introducing myself to the kids. For some odd reason, kids think that teachers live in the school and don't have lives of their own. Mrs. CT also said to include some of my artwork to show the kid that yes, art teachers know how to draw. (This is great for me. I have the hardest time drawing on the chalkboard.)

I've been going through some of my old work (most what I've done in classes at school) and it was so fun to look at. I'd thought I would share a little bit of some of the things I've done. I've added some quotes about creating or art that I related to. Enjoy!

{Study done with watercolor}

"God didn’t give me a choice. Art is not just something I create but something I am. It makes me one with my personal God. When I see something of beauty—landscape, still life objects—I need to be a part of it; through the creative process, I become one with my subject. My subject’s soul and my soul intertwine." -ritzymitzi
{Perfume Ad, Watercolor}
"I paint because it is the only time when I can be truly me and only me..."
-Anni

{Study, Watercolor}

"If you are true artist, you make art throughout your entire life. You have no choice." -John Mars

{head study, Graphite Pencil}

"I paint, sketch because I live art. Look, see, observe, smell, taste, feel. Art is what we are. It's actually an extension of ourselves which God himself gave to us at birth. Sit behind your easel and smell fresh paint and mediums and if you are not excited deep within, then you are not destined to produce art. It has different meanings for us all, but all in a nutshell "We just have to!"
{My roommate who was a dance major, Oil}

{Figure study, Pastel}

{Flower, Watercolor}

"I started painting in my 50s and it totally changed how I look at my world and how I live my life. When I paint I have total freedom to create whatever I chose to. The fact that there are no rules is so liberating and that freedom spills over into my daily life. I love it!" -Margidy

{China girl inspired by my visit to China, Pen, Ink, and Gouche}

."The desire to create is one of the deepest yearnings of the human soul. No matter our talents, education, backgrounds, or abilities, we each have an inherent wish to create something that did not exist before. Everyone can create. You don’t need money, position, or influence in order to create something of substance or beauty. Creation brings deep satisfaction and fulfillment. We develop ourselves and others when we take unorganized matter into our hands and mold it into something of beauty." -Uchtdorf

{China woman, Gouche on wood sanded off}

"No one can tell me I'm wrong."

{Illustration Study, Acrylic}

{Flowers, Gouche}

{Elephant, Charcoal and Gouche}